Maybin won't need surgery to repair ruptured biceps

PEORIA, Ariz. -- When Padres general manager Josh Byrnes discovered earlier this week that outfielder Cameron Maybin had a ruptured left biceps tendon, he had but one thought.

"I thought he was done for the season," Byrnes said on Thursday.

But after Maybin visited team doctors in San Diego earlier on Thursday, he decided against surgery -- a decision that the medical staff wholeheartedly agreed with.

"Our doctors saw his diagnostics and talked to Cam and decided [recovery] will be healing and the rehab route before we get him back to activity.

"But the strong consensus was no surgery."

Byrnes said it's still too soon to know a timeline for Maybin's return, though it could be as soon as four to six weeks, he said.

The original timeline, after an MRI on Monday, was two to three months and possibly longer if Maybin opted for surgery. But when the Padres took a closer look at Maybin's situation, it became apparent to them that surgery wasn't necessarily the best option and wasn't the only absolute path to healing.

Maybin suffered the injury making a diving catch Sunday in a game against the Dodgers. The Padres were relieved to hear that he suffered no damage to the shoulder capsule or rotator cuff.

Maybin, who missed all but 14 games in 2013 due to injuries, robbed the Dodgers' Juan Uribe of extra bases in the fourth inning of a game in Glendale, racing from center to right for a catch. But between pitches to the next batter, Maybin dropped his glove and was in obvious pain.

"When he landed, it jarred the shoulder and did damage to the biceps tendon," said manager Bud Black earlier this week.

Last season, Maybin spent time on the disabled list with first an impingement to his right wrist, which later required season-ending surgery. Maybin also missed time after he tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Maybin hit .264 with nine home runs and 40 steals in his first season with the Padres in 2011. He then hit .243 the following season.

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.